National AFib Awareness Month

Posted on September 18, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

September is National AFib Awareness Month, a month dedicated to promoting education, early detection, and improved care for AFib.

AFib stands for atrial fibrillation, a type of arrhythmia, or abnormal heartbeat. During AFib, the heart’s upper chambers, or the atria, beat chaotically and irregularly. They beat out of sync with the lower chambers, called ventricles.

Afib can lead to blood clots in the heart. It also increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.

Afib usually isn’t life-threatening, but it is a serious medical condition that needs proper treatment to prevent serious health issues.

There are many symptoms of AFib, including:

Feelings of a fast, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat
Chest pain
Dizziness
Fatigue
Lightheadedness
Reduced ability to exercise
Shortness of breath
Weakness

People can experience three types of AFib, including:

Paroxysmal AFib
Persistent AFib
Long-standing persistent AFib

The most common cause of AFib is problems with the heart’s structure. Other health problems and heart diseases that can cause AFib include:

A congenital heart defect
Sick sinus syndrome
Obstructive sleep apnea
Heart attack
High blood pressure
Lung diseases, including pneumonia
Coronary artery disease
Thyroid diseases
Infections from viruses

Many factors can increase your risk of AFib, including:

Age
Caffeine, nicotine, or illegal drug use
Drinking too much alcohol
Changes in the level of body minerals
Family history
Long-term health conditions
Obesity
Some medicines and supplements

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce heart disease risk and prevent AFib. Some basic heart-healthy tips include:

Controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes
Not smoking or using tobacco
Eating a diet that is low in salt and saturated fat
Exercising at least 30 minutes a day at least five days a week
Getting at least seven to nine hours of sleep a day
Maintaining a healthy weight
Reducing and managing stress

A healthcare provider can diagnose AFib by examining you and asking questions about your medical history and symptoms. Tests may be done to look for conditions causing irregular heartbeats such as heart disease or thyroid disease, including:

Blood tests
ECG or EKG
Holter monitor
Event recorder
Implantable loop recorder
Exercise stress tests
Chest X-ray

The goals of AFib treatment are to reset and control the heartbeat and prevent blood clots. Treatment for AFib depends on how long you’ve had it, your symptoms, and the cause of the irregular heartbeat. AFib treatment can include:

Medications
Cardioversion therapy
Surgery or catheter procedures

If you are experiencing any symptoms of Afib, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-7100. If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911 right away.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Wellness Wednesday Tip: Improving Your Physical Health

Posted on September 9, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Physical health and wellness are key to our overall well-being. Physical health is the condition of your body and how well it functions, from the strength of your heart and lungs to your ability to fight infection and move without pain.

Physical wellness is a proactive approach that emphasizes lifestyle choices that sustain energy, resilience, and functional capacity over a lifetime.

The tenets of physical health and wellness are important for keeping your body functioning properly. They include:

Watching what you put into your body
How much physical activity you get
Maintaining a healthy weight

These tenets are positive health habits that can help you decrease your stress, lower your risk of disease, and increase your energy.

Here are some strategies to help you improve your physical health:

Increase your physical activity
- Set specific goals for your physical activity
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator
- Take a walk on your lunch break
- Set an alarm to go off every hour as a reminder to move around for a minute or two
- Keep moving while watching TV
- Take an online exercise class
Eat a healthy and nutritious diet
- Eat a variety of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, lean meat, seafood, eggs, milk, yogurt, and cheese
- Limit foods that are low in vitamins and minerals
- Cut down on sugar by choosing foods with little or no added sugar
- Get more fiber
- Replace saturated fats in your diet with unsaturated fats, such as olive, canola, or other vegetable oils instead of butter, meat fats, or shortening
- Avoid foods high in salt, such as canned, smoked, or processed foods. Choose fresh poultry, fish, and lean meat instead
- Choose more complex carbs such as starches and fiber, which can be found in whole-grain breads, cereals, starchy vegetables, and legumes
Reach your weight loss goals and maintain a healthy weight
- Weigh yourself
- Calculate how many calories you need for your healthy goals
- Record your daily food intake and physical activity
- Set specific goals
- Choose healthy meals and physical activities you enjoy
- Plan activities with friends or family
- Be patient
Build healthy habits
- Plan and identify unhealthy patterns, and set realistic goals
- Change your surroundings and find ways to make healthier choices by removing temptations
- Ask for support by finding family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, or support groups
- Speak with a mental health professional if you are experiencing severe depression, anxiety, or burnout
Build muscle safely
- Start slowly, especially if you haven’t been active for a while
- Pay attention to your body when you experience exhaustion, sore joints, or muscle pains, which is a sign you are overdoing it
- Use small amounts of weight to start and add more weight slowly over time, while focusing on your form
- Use smooth, steady movements to lift weights into position, and don’t jerk or thrust weights
- Avoid locking your arm and leg joints in a straight position
- Don’t hold your breath during strength exercises
- Ask for help by looking for a group class at a local gym, recreation center, or find a trainer
Combat age-related changes
- Commit to a healthy diet
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Move more
- Get plenty of sleep
- Limit alcohol use
- Avoid tobacco products
- Visit the doctor regularly

If you would like to improve your physical health, or experience medical problems while doing so, you can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

How Heart Disease is Different in Women Than it is in Men

Posted on September 2, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Heart disease can be deadly for anyone, as it is the most common cause of death for both women and men in the U.S.

Heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions. There are three types of heart disease:

Coronary artery disease is the most common heart disease, caused by a buildup of plaque in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart and other parts of the body. After menopause, women are at a higher risk of coronary artery disease because of hormonal changes.

Arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart beats too slowly, too fast, or irregularly. A common example is atrial fibrillation.

Heart failure happens when the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to support other organs in the body. This condition is serious, but it doesn’t mean the heart has stopped beating.

While heart disease can occur in everyone, women face unique risks, largely due to differences in anatomy and hormones, such as estrogen. Estrogen protects the heart in the premenopausal years as it relaxes the arteries and promotes good cholesterol. This changes when a woman begins menopause and estrogen levels decline, increasing the chance of cardiovascular risk factors, such as high cholesterol and hypertension.

Other heart disease risk factors include:

Obesity

Smoking

Emotional stress and depression

Diabetes

Lack of physical activity

Pregnancy complications

Family history of early heart disease

Other health conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions

Over 60 million women (44%) in the United States are living with some form of heart disease, and it can affect them at any age. However, the prevalence of heart disease in women starts going up around the age of 65, which is about ten years later than men, presumably due to the lasting positive effects of estrogen.

Women are more likely to have other heart attack symptoms and have a higher chance of developing symptoms from heart failure. Although some women may not show any symptoms, others may experience:

Angina is usually felt as a dull or heavy chest discomfort or ache

Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat

Pain in the upper abdomen or back

These symptoms may happen when you are resting or active. Women may also have other symptoms, including:

Nausea

Vomiting

Tiredness that won’t go away or feels excessive

In some women, the first signs and symptoms of heart disease can be:

A heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced or blocked

Palpitations

Treatment for heart disease is similar for women and men, and can include medicines, angioplasty and stenting, or coronary artery bypass surgery.

However, there are differences in heart disease treatment for women and men, including:

Women are less likely to be treated with aspirin and statins to prevent future heart attacks than men are

Women are less likely to have coronary artery bypass surgery than men. This may be because women have less obstructive disease or smaller arteries with more small vessel disease

Cardiac rehabilitation can improve health and aid recovery from heart disease. However, women are less likely to be sent to cardiac rehabilitation than men are.

Living a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Here are some ways to live a heart-healthy lifestyle:

Controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol

Eating a healthy diet

Exercising and keeping a healthy weight

Managing stress

Getting quality sleep

Quitting smoking or stopping the use of tobacco products

Limiting alcohol consumption

If you are experiencing symptoms of heart disease, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486. If there is an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Transient Ischemic Attack

Posted on August 26, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a short period of symptoms like a stroke, caused by a brief blockage of blood flow to the brain. A transient ischemic attack usually only lasts a few minutes and doesn’t cause long-term damage.

A transient ischemic attack may be a warning. About one in three people who have a TIA will eventually have a stroke, with about half occurring within a year.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of a transient ischemic attack are like the symptoms of an early stroke and happen suddenly. Symptoms may include:

Weakness, numbness, or paralysis in the face, arm, or leg, typically on one side of the body

Slurred speech or trouble understanding others

Dizziness or loss of balance or coordination

Blindness in one or both eyes or double vision

A person can have more than one transient ischemic attack. Their symptoms may be similar or different depending on which area of the brain is involved.

Transient ischemic attacks occur when cholesterol-containing fatty deposits build up in an artery. These fatty deposits decrease the blood flow through an artery or lead to the development of a clot.

Some of the risk factors of a transient ischemic attack can’t be changed, but others can be controlled.

Risk factors that can’t be changed include:

Prior transient ischemic attack

Family history

Sickle cell disease

Risk factors you can control include:

Health conditions

High blood pressure

Cardiovascular disease

Carotid artery disease

High cholesterol

Diabetes

Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Excess weight

COVID-19

High levels of homocysteine

Lifestyle choices

Physical inactivity

Poor nutrition

Cigarette smoking

Heavy drinking

Use of illicit drugs

Knowing your risk factors and living a healthy lifestyle are the best things you can do to prevent a transient ischemic attack. Living a healthy lifestyle includes:

Getting regular checkups

Exercising regularly

Maintaining a healthy weight

Quitting smoking

Controlling diabetes

Lowering cholesterol

Limiting alcohol intake

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables

Avoiding illicit drug use

Diagnosing a TIA includes an immediate evaluation, which is essential. An evaluation may include:

Physical exams and tests

Carotid ultrasonography

CT or CTA scans

MRI or MRA scans

Echocardiography

Arteriography

A diagnosis helps your healthcare provider determine the best treatment for you. Treatment for a transient ischemic attack occurs once your healthcare provider determines its cause. The goal of treatment is to correct the issue and prevent a stroke. Treatments include:

Medicines, such as antiplatelet drugs and anticoagulants

Surgical procedures, such as an angioplasty

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of a transient ischemic attack, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Emergency Department. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Ultrasound vs Sonogram: What Is the Difference?

Posted on August 14, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

For many of us, medical terminology can be confusing. When you are scheduled for an exam, such as an ultrasound or a sonogram, they might sound like they are the same thing. However, ultrasounds and sonograms are two different parts of the same medical test.

An ultrasound exam is a procedure that uses sound waves beyond the range humans can hear to create images of soft tissues inside the body, helping healthcare providers diagnose or rule out several conditions. It is noninvasive, painless, and doesn’t use radiation.

An ultrasound can spot growths or abnormalities inside your body and can also clearly show and measure fluids.

Healthcare providers will use ultrasound exams to view:

Breast lumps and cysts

Muscles and tendons

Blood flow in your arms, neck, and legs

Abdominal organs, including your gallbladder, liver, pancreas, and spleen

Your urinary system, including your bladder and kidneys

Pelvic organs such as your ovaries, prostate, and uterus

Fluids, such as amniotic fluid during a pregnancy or urine in your bladder

An ultrasound can’t see everything, as it is usually not the best test for viewing bones, which block sound waves. Ultrasounds also can’t see structures inside your joints, such as cartilage.

Healthcare providers don’t just use ultrasound as a standalone medical exam. They also use it to guide minimally invasive procedures, such as breast biopsy.

A sonogram is a real-time, moving image created by an ultrasound machine. It can be printed, saved digitally, or used to show organs, soft tissues, blood flow, or a developing baby. Sonograms will be viewed and interpreted by a radiologist who will send a report to your referring healthcare provider with a diagnosis or other information based on your results. A healthcare provider will then study and review the sonogram images and video loops to detect abnormalities, monitor health conditions, and support treatment planning. These images help healthcare providers explain findings clearly and give patients a better understanding of their medical care.

Understanding the difference between an ultrasound and a sonogram helps patients navigate medical imaging more confidently. Both are safe, noninvasive, and widely used in medical diagnostics.

The Flushing Hospital Department of Radiology offers a wide variety of advanced, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging services. To schedule an appointment, call 718-670-5458. To schedule an appointment for an MRI or learn more about the MRI, please call 718-670-8851.

Wellness Wednesday Tip: Staying Physicall Active

Posted on August 12, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Life can move fast, and we may not have enough time to exercise as much as we would like to. Most people spend half of their day sedentary. The more you sit, the more your large muscles aren’t using glucose, the body’s main source of energy. Sitting for long periods of time can cause blood sugar levels to rise, triggering the body to release insulin.

Over time, sedentary habits cause the body to become less sensitive to insulin, resulting in insulin resistance.

Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. What’s more, any kind of exercise can reduce fatigue and improve sleep, decrease anxiety and depression, improve weight management, and promote brain health. It can also help prevent and reduce the risk of long-term health problems, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.

Additionally, regularly moving your body lowers your risk for some types of cancers, fatty liver disease, chronic pain, arthritis, and even dementia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. Moderate-intensity physical activity can be any activity that gets you to breathe harder and your heart beating faster, such as:

Brisk walking

Dancing

Swimming

Roller skating

Jogging

Riding a bike

Playing a sport

Moving your body doesn’t always have to involve working out in a gym. You can also climb the stairs, garden, or play with your children or pets.

Whether you are just starting or haven’t been physically active for a while, there are ways to get started. Here are some tips to help you add more physical activity to your daily life:

Look for ways to make physical activity a part of your daily routine, such as walking the dog or walking in place during commercial breaks while watching TV

Start with activities, locations, and times you enjoy

Find a place near your home or work to be physically active

Try activities with friends or family that you enjoy together

If you lack the time, space, energy, skill, or if something else is preventing you from being more physically active, such as a fear of injuring yourself, here are ways to overcome these obstacles:

Add physical activity to your daily routine, such as parking farther away from your destination or taking the stairs instead of the elevator

Schedule physical activity for times in the day or week when you will feel more energetic

Invite a friend or family member to exercise with you regularly

Choose activities you can do safely, and increase the amount you do gradually as your confidence and abilities grow

Be sure to warm up and cool down before walking to avoid injury

Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Everyone can experience the health benefits of physical activity, as it gets your body moving and your heart beating faster.

It is recommended that you consult your doctor before starting or adding new exercises to your routine. You can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486.

Summer Health Concerns and How to Prevent them

Posted on July 2, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Summer is in full swing, so most of our time will be spent outside doing various activities. However, there are many health concerns to consider.

Here are some summer health concerns and how to prevent them:

The human body is made of up to 78% of water, and when it doesn’t get enough, it can’t function properly. In high heat, dehydration can become severe and fatal. To prevent dehydration, it is important to stay hydrated. You can do this by drinking water and eating water-rich foods. Staying properly hydrated can also prevent kidney stones.

Sunburns occur when ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun cause a radiation burn on the skin. Sunburns can contribute to premature aging of the skin and skin cancer, and can also lead to dehydration, sun poisoning, and infection from severe burns. To prevent sunburn, wear sunscreen containing titanium oxide or zinc oxide every day, even on overcast days. Make sure to cover your entire body, including your ears, eyelids, lips, scalp, and, if exposed, the top of your feet.

Spending time in the sun doesn’t only bring the risks of sunburn and dehydration. It also brings the risk of heat illnesses, including:

Heat rash- a red stinging rash that develops when sweat gets trapped in your glands.
Heat cramps are painful muscle cramps that occur when you sweat so much that your body loses salts and fluids.
Heat exhaustion occurs when the body can’t cool itself through sweating. If it’s not treated, it can quickly turn into heatstroke.
Heatstroke, or sunstroke, occurs when a person’s body temperature climbs to dangerous levels. It’s the most severe heat-related illness and can be fatal.

To prevent heat illnesses, limit the time you spend outdoors. Also, take any symptoms you observe in yourself and others seriously.

Insects are more active during the summer, which means there’s a higher risk of encountering them. Especially for:

Bee stings
Mosquito bites
Tick bites
Ant bites

To prevent bugs from stinging or biting you, wear an insect repellent with the active ingredients DEET or picaridin. Other ways to prevent stings and bites include:

Avoid using scented products.
Drain any standing water.
Put on protective clothing.
Don’t leave any food uncovered outside.

We want to spend more time near water to cool off as temperatures rise. However, it is important to follow proper safety precautions to avoid drowning risks. Here are some ways to prevent drowning risks:

Learn CPR
Use drain covers on pool drains.
Wear life jackets
Sign up for swimming lessons.

Everybody loves a good summer barbecue or cookout, but sometimes the food we eat doesn’t always love us back. The smoking process that gives smoked meats their flavor also creates harmful substances called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs and heterocyclic amines or HCAs. The National Cancer Institute warns that PAHs and HCAs are mutagenic, meaning they can cause changes to your DNA that put you at risk for certain types of cancer. You can prevent ingesting these harmful substances by using liquid smoke as an alternative marinade for your meats. Foodborne illness can be a concern for cookout food as well. This is the case for food left out or leftover sitting in the “temperature danger zone” of 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures allow bacteria to grow that can make you sick. You can prevent foodborne illness by cooking meats to a safe temperature and throwing any food that has sat out too long in the trash.

Seasonal allergies caused by pollen is a huge problem in the summer as the weather gets warmer and trees, grass, and flowers pollinate. To prevent seasonal allergies, try taking allergy medications before the season starts so your body can build its defense.

These preventative measures can help you enjoy your summer and keep you safe.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of heat-related illness, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486. If you or someone you are with is experiencing an emergency, call 911 immediately.

How as Few as Two Cigarettes Per Day Increases Risk of Heart Disease

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Smoking tobacco products, such as cigarettes, is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 480,000 people die from cigarette smoking in the U.S. each year, with many of them dying from cancer. What’s more, people who smoke die about ten years earlier than those who have never smoked.

Smoking doesn’t just cause cancer. It can also cause several other diseases and can damage nearly every organ in the body, including the lungs, blood vessels, reproductive organs, bones, mouth, eyes, and skin.

Smoking tobacco can also damage the heart, as it can increase a person’s risk of developing heart disease.

According to a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, who looked at the smoking habits of more than 300,000 adults for almost twenty years, it was discovered that men and women who smoked as few as two cigarettes daily had a 60 percent increased risk of death from any cause compared to those who never smoked.

Additionally, the study also found that the group of smokers participating in the study had a 50 percent risk of heart disease.

According to Dr. Jennifer Miao, a cardiologist at Yale University, “tobacco use is a very well-established risk factor for heart disease. It really damages the blood vessel lining and accelerates the development of plaques and coronary disease.”

Smoking can also cause heart rhythm issues, such as atrial fibrillation and stroke.

Unfortunately, the study found that cutting back on cigarette smoking may not be enough to undo the harm it causes. Despite current smokers having a higher risk of death than former smokers, former smokers still had an increased risk of heart disease more than twenty years after they had stopped smoking, according to the study.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, quitting smoking is the most important action a person could take to improve their health, as it reduces the risk of premature death and smoking-related diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Treatments such as smoking cessation counseling and nicotine replacement therapy medications, including over-the-counter patches, gum, lozenges, and prescribed inhalers and nasal sprays, can help manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and help you quit smoking.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center provides extensive assistance for people willing to quit smoking. It offers a free smoking cessation support group and one-on-one sessions, both in person and by phone. For more information, please call 718-206-8494.

Labile Hypertension

Posted on May 29, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Labile hypertension means your blood pressure goes up and down in a way that can be difficult to predict and manage with medications. This is not an official diagnosis. Instead, it is more of an informal, descriptive term.

Blood pressure normally fluctuates throughout the day, even within minutes, based on what you are doing. However, sudden emotional distress, such as feeling very stressed or anxious, causes your sympathetic nervous system to react.

The exact triggers for labile hypertension vary from person to person. Some people have emotional triggers. Other people can have triggers, such as:

Physical activity

Salty foods

Alcohol

Lack of sleep

Your body position

To support normal blood flow, your body must adapt to these changes. However, with labile hypertension, your blood pressure spikes to levels that would not be healthy if you had them all the time.

There is no reason to worry if your blood pressure is in the normal range. Labile hypertension usually isn’t dangerous and doesn’t require treatment. However, it is a good idea to tell your healthcare provider about any high blood pressure readings, so they are aware of them. Your healthcare provider may want to keep a closer eye on your blood pressure in case you need treatment at some point.

You can have labile hypertension without noticing. However, it is common to experience symptoms that come on rapidly, in response to stress, and dissipate once you feel better emotionally. You may feel symptoms such as:

A headache

Heart palpitations

Heavy sweating

Flushing or a warm sensation in the upper body

A healthcare provider may determine that you have labile hypertension if they observe a pattern of blood pressures that fluctuate unpredictably, which can make it difficult to manage.

A healthcare provider may perform tests such as “orthostatic” vital signs, which means checking your blood pressure while you’re in different positions.

A healthcare provider may also consider looking for neurological causes of labile blood pressure or evidence of stiffening in your aorta and blood vessels, as both can lead to sudden changes in blood pressure.

If your blood pressure spikes while at home, you can use a home blood pressure monitor that saves a history of your readings to share with your healthcare provider. They may ask you to do ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, which measures your blood pressure many times over 24 hours. Ambulatory blood pressure monitors show your average readings during the day and night, which can show if you have high blood pressure all the time or only at certain times.

There isn’t a threshold for what is considered to be labile hypertension. However, research shows that it is common to have a systolic blood pressure of 160 mm Hg or higher.

A healthcare provider will prescribe medicine to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. It may take several tries to prescribe medications to level your blood pressure throughout the day. Prescription medications may include taking certain, longer-acting blood pressure medications. A healthcare provider may also suggest taking medications at certain times of the day, such as at specific times in the morning, at night, or with certain triggers.

It is difficult to treat labile hypertension. However, documenting your blood pressure readings accurately and working with your healthcare provider can help make a difference.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of labile hypertension, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Preeclampsia Awareness Week

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of this potentially fatal pregnancy condition.

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that occurs around the 20th week during pregnancy and lasts about six weeks after birth. It is characterized by symptoms, such as high blood pressure and protein in the urine, and can cause major difficulties for the mother and baby if the condition isn’t monitored and managed.

Other symptoms of preeclampsia include:

Severe headache

Swelling in the hands and face

Vision problems

Nausea and vomiting

Pain in the stomach or abdomen

Sudden weight gain

Shortness of breath

Symptoms of postpartum preeclampsia include:

Severe headache

Vision changes

Swelling of the hands and face

Difficulty breathing

It is important to note that the shorter the time between diagnosis and treatment, the better the outcomes for the mother and baby.

Preeclampsia and related hypertension diseases of pregnancy (HDPs) affect approximately 76,000 mothers and 500,000 newborns every year and are the leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death in the U.S. and worldwide.

According to a report done by the Preeclampsia Foundation based on survey data, which analyzed knowledge from almost 3,000 new and expectant mothers that closely represent the demographics of the U.S. population, found that 80% of new and expectant mothers are aware of preeclampsia as a dangerous high blood pressure condition related to pregnancy. However, only 8% of them can correctly name all its major symptoms, and only 29% expressed fear that it may impact their own pregnancy.

Here are some additional statistics about preeclampsia:

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy complicate 5%-10% of all pregnancies worldwide. They include:

Preeclampsia, with or without features

Eclampsia

Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome

Gestational hypertension

Black women experience severe maternal morbidity events at 2.1 times the rate of white women

Most maternal and infant deaths caused by HDPs occur in low- and middle-income countries

The U.S. ranks 47th worldwide for maternal mortality, and is the only industrialized nation with a rising maternal mortality rate

Sixty percent of hypertension-related maternal deaths are potentially preventable, which highlights missed opportunities for appropriate, recommended care of maternal hypertension

There are several ways to improve outcomes for women affected by preeclampsia, including:

Screening for risk factors and early hypertension control, nutrition, and exercise, which may help decrease rates of preeclampsia

Providing easy-to-understand preeclampsia signs and symptoms education tools to improve patient understanding of these, and to discuss with their healthcare providers

Supporting prenatal quality collaboratives that help hospitals to implement care practices that reduce early delivery and reduce severe pregnancy complications

Providing access to midwives, doulas, and other trained childbirth attendants throughout the prenatal, labor, and delivery, and postpartum periods. This can improve pregnancy outcomes for all moms, especially those in the BIPOC community

Encouraging and instructing prenatal and postpartum patients on self-measured blood pressure protocols. Pregnancy is the perfect time for women to check, know, and share their blood pressure readings

Standardizing and providing care guidelines on the leading causes of maternal mortality, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. This has been shown to decrease maternal illness and death

Preeclampsia rates in the U.S. are on the rise. It is important that all women know the signs, symptoms, and risk factors for developing high blood pressure during pregnancy, but also know they don’t need to have risk factors to develop it.

Flushing Hospital’s Women’s Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology offers comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, and culturally sensitive care. Our services are provided by a highly skilled team of OBGYNs. For more information about gynecological services at FHMC’s Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, call us at (718) 670 8994.